Dominican low-cost carrier Arajet could be flying to Venezuela by spring 2027. Communications director Manuel Luna says the airline hopes to launch between March and April next year, as long as Venezuelan authorities sign off on the permits this month. The Dominican side is already sorted: the Civil Aviation Board (JAC) has green-lit the routes.

If it goes ahead, expect flights from both Santo Domingo and Punta Cana. Arajet filed in March for six routes serving Caracas, Valencia and Maracaibo, running twice a week each on Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft — 12 weekly flights in total. Luna, speaking at the ALTA Airline Leaders Forum in Mexico City, flagged Caracas and possibly Valencia as the likely first stops, and notably left Maracaibo out of the conversation, so treat that route as the shakiest of the three.

The missing piece is clearance from Venezuela's National Institute of Civil Aeronautics (INAC). No firm launch date has been set, but the airline is targeting the first half of 2027.

Why does this matter? Direct air links between the Dominican Republic and Venezuela have been thin for years, and the two countries share deep family and commercial ties — hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans have settled in the Dominican Republic, and plenty of Dominicans have family in Caracas, Valencia and Maracaibo. A low-cost carrier entering the market usually means cheaper fares and easier connections, especially for the large Venezuelan diaspora in the US who often connect through Santo Domingo. Arajet has built its brand on budget fares across Latin America from its Santo Domingo hub, and Venezuela is one of the more obvious gaps on its map.

For holidaymakers, it also opens up a practical two-stop trip: a beach week in Punta Cana or a city break in Santo Domingo, then a short hop to Caracas. Just keep an eye on official announcements — the whole thing hinges on INAC's sign-off, and route launch timelines in this part of the world can slip. Anyone with family ties between the two countries should start watching fares once tickets actually go on sale, as launch routes often come with introductory pricing.

We'll update this when a firm date and full route list are confirmed.